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Vocabulary

Vocabulary. Town Meeting- Meetings where citizens can take part in creating local laws Public Hearing- Meetings where citizens can voice their opinions on laws and other issues

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Vocabulary

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  1. Vocabulary • Town Meeting- Meetings where citizens can take part in creating local laws • Public Hearing- Meetings where citizens can voice their opinions on laws and other issues • Interest groups- Groups that hope to influence gov’t officials to create legislation (laws) that benefit their agenda. Types of interest groups include single issue, economic and public interest.

  2. Warm Up? • What is the top law enforcement agency in the United States? • FBI

  3. Enforcing Laws

  4. Federal, state and local governments rely on a number of agencies to implement laws effectively.

  5. Regulatory Commissions and Independent Agencies • Regulatory Commissions and Independent Agencies see that laws are efficiently implemented and held to. • Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) • Federal Trade Commission (FTC) • National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) • Federal Communications Commission (FCC) • Food & Drug Administration (FDA) • Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)

  6. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) • National Aeronautic & Space Administration (NASA) • Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) • Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC)

  7. Law Enforcement Agencies • National • FBI • Nations top law enforcement agency • Operates under the US Justice Department • Secret Service • Responsible for protecting public officials • Counterfeiting of US Money

  8. State • State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) • State’s equivalent of FBI • State’s top law enforcement agency • State Troopers • Investigate and enforce violations of state traffic laws • National Guard • State’s Military Force • Serves to help in times of natural disasters or maintain order • Under command of Governor but can be nationalized by the President

  9. Local • Sheriff’s Department provides enforcement of criminal and civil laws • Cities have their own police departments for city-wide enforcement

  10. Informed Citizenry • People must be informed of the laws that govern their society • Ignorance of the Law is no excuse. • Citizens are expected to obey a law even if they don’t know it existed.

  11. Staying Informed • Town Meeting • Citizens in smaller communities can take part in drafting local laws and policies • Public Hearing and Forums • Meetings where the general public may attend to speak regarding laws and other matters • Media • Most common • TV, Radio, Newspapers & magazines

  12. The government also plays a role in keeping citizens informed • Press releases are statements released to the public through the media • Internet websites • Accessibility of public officials/gov’t publications • Political Debates • Franking Privilege • Gov’t officials may send out newsletters or respond to letters for free by mail • Special Task Force

  13. Interest Groups • Economic Interest Groups • Promote economic or business interests • Largest is the Chamber of Commerce • Public Interest Groups • Promote moral causes, rather than economic concerns • Support causes that affect the lives of American people • Environmental groups • Single Interest Groups • Represent only a specific group • AARP, Veterans of Foreign Wars, PETA

  14. Think Tanks • Think Tanks are organizations established to research, study or provide advice about important issues • Often connected to Universities • Provide information to gov’t leaders with opinions on economics, sociology, foreign policy, etc.

  15. REFLECTION • What are some of the roles that regulatory commissions and independent agencies play in the implementation and enforcement of laws? • What were some of the federal law enforcement agencies that we learned about today that are tasked with enforcing laws? • What were some of the state law enforcement agencies that we learned about today that are tasked with enforcing laws? • What were some of the local law enforcement agencies that we learned about today that are tasked with enforcing laws? • What can citizens do to stay informed? • What can the government do to keep citizens informed? • What is the difference between economic interest groups, public interests groups, and single interest groups? • What role does “Think Tanks” play in developing and enforcing policies?

  16. Closing ? • Do you think it is fair that citizens are held accountable to obey a law, even if they didn’t know it existed?

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